G1 Saudi Cup

Prince Faisal's globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) will undergo a thorough examination once he returns to the UK, according to co-trainer Thady Gosden, who trains with his father John. The 2021 G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic hero was attempting to become the world's richest racehorse with a title defence of the $20-million Saudi Cup, which was elevated to Group 1 status this term. However, the 2020 G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero failed to fire in Riyadh on Sunday and trailed home...

Prince Faisal's 2021 $20-million Saudi Cup hero Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) is in excellent form ahead of his defence of his crown in the 2022 edition, the first time the race has been accorded Group 1 status. The John and Thady Gosden runner took the G1 Sheema Classic at Meydan last March, and was third in Sandown's G1 Eclipse S. July. Second to Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. on July 24, he bounced back to win the G1 Juddmonte International...

Dual group winner Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) pleased trainer Saeed bin Suroor in his work on Thursday and is being pointed at the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup in February. Godolphin's 5-year-old son of Nafura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won the Listed Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot on June 16, added the Aug. 21 Strensall S. prior to signing off last season with a narrow victory in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 2. "He worked today and he worked really well, he's in good...

Prince Faisal's Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), victorious in last season's Saudi Cup in Riyadh, remains on course to defend his title in the $20-million race Feb. 26. The race will be run as a Group 1 for the first time this year. "That's his target, the Saudi Cup, and as far as I know everything is on track," said Ted Voute, racing manager to Prince Faisal. Following last season's victory, the John and Thady Gosden trainee added a win in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan. Later...

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go (Paynter) will try to return to his winning ways Saturday in Belmont's GI Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan H., a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar this fall. Riding a four-race unbeaten streak, including the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Mile in November and the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 23, the grey finished fourth most recently behind Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the Feb. 20 GI Saudi Cup. "We had to contend with...

Knicks Go (Paynter) and Charlatan (Speightstown), a pair of major forces headlining the American racing scene in 2020, take on 12 others in Saturday's $20-million Saudi World Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Both Grade I winners in their latest starts, the pair represent two of America's leading trainers, Brad Cox, who took home his first Eclipse Award last season, and Bob Baffert, a 2020 finalist who had previously annexed four training titles. Knicks Go, winner of the 2018 GI Breeders' Futurity S. while under the care...